NOTHING TO FEAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 24

NOTHING TO FEAR

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES

GOVERNMENT AIM

STATE SUPERANNUATION

"A further assurancs that friendly societies need have nothing to fear from the Government proposals to institute a scheme for health insurance and superannuation on a national basis was given last evening by the Minister in Charge of Friendly Societies (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) at the installation ceremony of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows (New Zealand). The Government, said Mr. Martin, would attend 1o those sick and needy that friendly societies could not reach, and at a later stage the fullest co-operation of societies would De sought. It would be impossible, said the Minister, to measure the amount of assistance that had been given by friendly societies in the Dominion towards the relief of distress; but societies were wondering what was going to happen now that the Government had put forward proposals for a national superannuation and health scheme. "I want to give you my assurance that so far as the Government is concerned there will be nothing done that will interfere with the work of friendly societies," declared the Minister. "On the contrary, I think I can say that the Government will look to the friendly societies for help and co-opera-tion la the launching of the scheme that it is working upon at the moment. One canncri imagine that any Government would •■ fail to take advantage of the experience*', and the knowledge that have been gathered through the years by members of friendly societies, and we shall look to the friendly societies for help and co-operation in this great undertaking. '. ■ NATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. "I think that every friendly. society man who has given thought to the question will agree with me that the changing conditions have brought responsibilities which it is not possible for the friendly societies to shoulder unless they were to receive, by way of subsidy or other means, assistance in meeting the claims made Upon them; the magnitude of the position today is so great that : if .becomes a national responsibility." i ■ It was a great scheme, continued the Minister, and he thought that when the Government plans had advanced a little the friendly societies would be brought into consultation to evolve something to be of benefit to those whom friendly societies could not reach—those who, for various causes, were unable to pass the test which was required for entry to a-society. - ... "There are numerous .people who could not possibly measure-up to what is required by the- friendly societies, and in that respect I say the position is a national responsibility, and the Government will/ be shouldering that responsibility,"l continued the Minister. "Knowing isocieties as I do, and understanding -the work of the societies, I have not the least fear with regard to the results." : SOCIETIES' INFLUENCE. The Minister said earlier that the influence of friendly societies did not stop at the giving of pecuniary relief. It' had a much wider scope than that, and exercised a very great influence in moulding opinions and in 'j creating the community ..of. .interests,;: in the Dominion. Some.;of. the' outstanding citizens, men'whohadmade.their mark in political, religiqus/'Jndustrial, "■ and other spheres^ ".owed ;. their start to friendly' "societies;'"where'- they were taught not -.only to serve and obey, but where they received'their first lessons in the" art of expressing themselves intelligibly. ,